Kinda Like Brothers - Coe Booth

Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth
Genre: J/YA Realistic Fiction

Blurb (on back of book): Jarrett doesn't trust Kevon.
But he's got to share a room with him anyway.
It was one thing when Jarrett's mom took care of foster babies who needed help. But this time it's different. This time the baby who needs help has an older brother—a kid Jarrett's age named Kevon.
Everyone thinks Jarrett and Kevon should be friends—but that's just not gonna happen. Not when Kevon's acting like he's better than Jarrett—and not when Jarrett finds out Kevon's keeping some major secrets.
Jarrett doesn't think it's fair that he has to share his room, his friends, and his life with some stranger. He's gotta do something about it—but what?
From award-winning author Coe Booth, Kinda Like Brothers is the story of two boys who really don't get along—but have to find a way to figure it out.

MY OPINION: *****

I really enjoyed reading this book. It keeps readers enthralled and is interesting. It is also very realistic and has a good ending.

That's it. I'm done! Shortest review ever!

JK :)

Did you really think I was going to slack like that, especially on such a good book????

Yeah, I didn't think so ;)

OK, I just have to correct the blurb: Kevon is older than Jarrett. He is twelve, and Jarrett is eleven. This makes all the difference.

Jarrett is astounded to find out that he is going to have to share a room with a boy who is older than him, and who thinks he is the boss of Jarrett!

Kevon has a lot of problems, but he chooses to keep it to himself.

This book was very realistic, and it has really good characters. It is meant for younger readers, and you can tell by the writing style that younger readers can understand. Despite this, the storyline is really very good, and the book is really well-written. It will keep any good reader intrigued.

I think that the author has a good sense of how children, or pre-teens think about life. Jarrett makes many various mistakes, and Coe Booth makes a good description of how Jarrett goes through the problems; it is very real to life.

Kids basically make a mistake. It isn't their fault, it just spills out of their mouths. Jarrett does the same thing at some point in the book, and there is no way to take it back. Obviously, the kids who got badmouthed is going to seek revenge in some way, and then bad rumors start, and fights occur, and suspensions happen. Punishments are made throughout the book, and that is very real to life.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Jarrett is a really nosy person, in my opinion, but I guess that is all kids, and he was doing it for the greater good overall, despite how some people may view that. So Jarrett interferes with Kevon's business, and ultimately ends up embarrassing Kevon in front of everyone at the Center. Kevon then finds out and retaliates by breaking school property. Basically, Jarrett has this trailer that he has been working on with his best friend, Ennis, for a really long time. On the day that they are going to present it, Kevon breaks the computer on which he saved the only copy of the trailer.

That was cold. I feel like Jarrett wasn't all wrong: he was just trying to help Kevon with his family. But Kevon ruins his life. Kids always say that their lives are ruined, but they always end up getting back up. I literally felt so bad for Jarrett as Kevon was smashing the laptop.

SO RUDE. 

But I get it.

The ending of this book was really different. I wanted to know what happens, but the author decided to leave the whole book in suspense, which is not what I would have expected from this book. Again, that is very real to life: nothing ever goes as expected, and you don't always get a happily ever after. That's just how life works. I like how the author changed the story that way.

Jarrett has this crush on Caprice. I really wanted to know if they ever started going out or not. He is too scared to ask her out, but I wish he could've just done it! I'm sure she would have said yes! I mean, she was always talking to him, so that has to be something.

Overall, I think that this book was really good, especially for younger readers. I would recommend this book to 4-7 graders.

Main Character: Jarrett
Sidekick(s): Kevon, Terrence, Man Club, Treasure, etc
Villain(s): Misunderstanding, violence, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: All of this was very real to life, and could very easily be real, though it does not mean it will ever be.